Uninsured Motorist and UnderInsured Motorist or UM/UIM insurance is one of the least expensive and most valuable forms of insurance you can buy.  UM/UIM is part of your own automobile insurance coverage.  UM/UIM provides important coverage for injuries caused by drivers with minimal insurance coverage or no insurance whatsoever.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) provides coverage for car accident injuries caused by a driver without insurance.  The Insurance Research Council estimates 11.5% of Kentucky drivers are uninsured.  This is based upon a ratio of the number of actual UM claims in Kentucky versus bodily injury claim frequencies.  Kentucky requires a minimum amount of UM to be included in all insurance policies unless the insured party signs away their right to UM coverage.  We highly recommend that you never sign away your UM coverage.

Kentucky law requires all drivers to hold these minimum coverage types and amounts:

• $25,000 for bodily injury, per person.
• $50,000 for total bodily injury, per accident.
• $10,000 for property damage.

It is easy to see this coverage would not suffice in most accidents.

Underinsured Motorist (UIM) is different than UM.  This portion of your automobile accident insurance covers damages which are the fault of another driver who do not carrying enough insurance coverage to pay for the damages, medical bills, lost wages and other expenses and financial damages associated with your car accident and any resulting injuries.

Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist or UM/UIM insurance covers you in the event of a hit and run accident when the responsible party cannot be found or otherwise identified.  UM/UIM also usually covers you if you are injured in an accident due to another person’s negligence while riding your bicycle or as a pedestrian.

If you are involved in a car accident which is the fault of a driver with Kentucky state minimum insurance their coverage will not come close to repaying expenses and valid claims related to injuries you receive in a car accident.

After decades of experience with motor vehicle accidents and related injury claims the attorneys at Hargadon, Lenihan & Herrington (HLH) highly recommend you purchase the maximum UM/UIM coverage available under your automobile insurance.  For example, it may it only cost you an additional $20 to $25 to increase your coverage to the maximum limits under your policy, while providing an additional $250,000 or more in coverage for injuries resulting from a motor vehicle accident.